Until recently, the theoretical application of public policy models was not common to the discipline of forestry. However, various demands to implement sustainable forest management policies over the last decade have resulted in political scientists taking a research interest in this sector. This study introduces the advocacy coalition framework as a model that provides a comprehensive understanding of the temporal dynamics of a policy process responsible for the creation of new forest strategies, policies, and programs across Canada. The strength of this framework is its capacity to determine the level of commitment towards sustainable forest management within each of the provinces. Two provincial case studies are examined: Alberta and Ontario.